allpay Limited produces first debit card for Starling Bank

allpay Limited, the UK’s leading payment specialist, has manufactured the first debit card for Starling Bank, the UK’s leading, fully-mobile challenger bank.

Starling Bank approached allpay Limited to assist with the facilitation of its debit card design and production. The bank wanted a card that would make a real impression and be distinctive in the marketplace but was operating under a tight deadline ahead of their launch.

Despite a challenging eight-week deadline, allpay Limited was able to facilitate the artwork development swiftly and effectively. The payment specialist produced a series of pre-presses, resulting in 18 different artworks, specialist inks and finish variations, which enabled Starling Bank to select the most visually appealing combination prior to production.

allpay Limited also provided consultancy on chip profiles and CPV (Chip Personalisation Verification) completion, helping Starling Bank issue its first cards as scheduled to support the mobile bank’s launch timetable.

Julian Sawyer, COO of Starling Bank, commented: “Starling Bank and allpay Limited have collaborated closely on the print and technical development of our card to produce an impressive and distinctive result. We are looking forward to the continuation of our successful partnership when we begin customer trials and launch our new banking concept in early 2017.”

Ceri Davis, allpay Limited’s production director, said: “I am really pleased we could assist Starling Bank with the creation of its new debit card. It was a pleasure to work on such an interesting program that really showcased our UK pre-press, print and account management team’s skill and ability to quickly launch programs and get cards to market. Our aim was to deliver the modern, creative and innovative design in keeping with the bank’s brief and timeline.

Davis continued: “While allpay Limited is well-regarded for its wide range of payment collection services, it has quickly established a solid reputation for producing strong, effective print-based communications material for a range of clients across the UK. Our successful foray into card production only highlights our broad range of services, and we look forward to future collaborations.”

Collecting more than £6bn a year from more than 60 million transactions, allpay Limited is the UK’s leading payment services specialist, offering the widest range of payment collection services. The business is part of allpay Limited, established in 1994, and headquartered in Hereford, with offices in London and Cheltenham.

allpay Limited works with central government departments, social housing, education, credit unions and debt collection agencies, to facilitate the collection and receipt of revenues. It works with 75 per cent of the top 400 housing associations and a third of all local authorities in the UK. The company works with each of its clients to save them money through creating modern payment and card systems that are both cost effective, and convenient for the end consumer. In addition to bill collection, allpay Limited also operates prepaid cards and cashless technologies for a range of sectors.

Since launching in 2008, allpay Card Services has become one of the fastest growing and most trusted brands in plastic card manufacturing, built on a reputation for delivering a bespoke and high-quality service to clients, no matter how small or large the requirement.

Certified by MasterCard® and Visa, allpay Limited produces everything from credit and debit cards for banks and building societies to prepaid, transit and ID cards for a range of industry sectors all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

Being one of only two UK based scheme approved card manufacturers, allpay Limited has complete control of the process in-house – from design through to distribution – allowing the firm to respond rapidly to clients’ needs and deliver card programs faster than any other manufacturer.

Starling is creating an app that will replace the current account for a generation of mobile consumers.

A FinTech business with a banking licence, we are shifting control to customers, giving them access to insights, data and services that empower them to make decisions about their money. Plus, having gained our licence in July, customers can also enjoy the security and protection of a regulated bank.

Unlike other next generation banks, we are not replicating the traditional bank model. We are not providing a range of products. Instead, Starling will enable its customers through seamless access to a mobile marketplace of financial services and products that best meet their needs at any given time.

Data will inform everything. Starling customers will be able to harness their own data to make better decisions with their finances and maintain a healthier money lifestyle.

Having assembled a team of engineers, artists and economists, the build of the bank is nearing completion. We will be ready to launch in early 2017.

The launch of The Clearing House (TCH) real-time payments (RTP) platform in the US and of Europe’s SCT Inst scheme is an indication that instant payments are at last going global, but how ready are banks?